IRDA converter tag

ABSTRACT

An infrared converter tag device is disclosed. A housing contains an infrared receiver that is ported through the housing to receive infrared encoded data and provide an electrical signal representing the encoded infrared data as an output. A display or a radio transmitter is provided and a processor is programmed to receive the electrical signal output from the infrared receiver and convert the output to a signal that is provided to the display where the display represents the signal as a visual image or provide a signal that is transmitted as an RF signal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to infrared communications and translation of same to visual display or radio frequency communication.

BACKGROUND

Generally speaking, many legacy systems utilize IrDA ports to convey information (e.g., utility meters, mailing drop boxes, vending machines, etc.). However, many newer computing platforms do not have the ports or drivers necessary to add support for an IrDA interface. Or, sometimes size limitations on the device restrict that.

Therefore, a need exists to convert the infrared ports to a better format.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention embraces n infrared converter tag device. A housing contains an infrared receiver that is ported through the housing to receive infrared encoded data and provide an electrical signal representing the encoded infrared data as an output. A display or a radio transmitter is provided and a processor is programmed to receive the electrical signal output from the infrared receiver and convert the output to a signal that is provided to the display where the display represents the signal as a visual image or provide a signal that is transmitted as an RF signal.

In an example embodiment, a housing contains: an infrared receiver that is ported through the housing to receive infrared encoded data and provide an electrical signal representing the encoded infrared data as an output. A display is provided. A processor is programmed to receive the electrical signal output from the infrared receiver and convert the output to a signal that is provided to the display where the display represents the signal as a visual image.

In certain implementations, the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as a visual image of a bar code. In certain implementations, the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as alphanumeric characters. In certain implementations, a radio transmitter is provided and the processor is further programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is transmitted by the radio transmitter. In certain implementations, the radio transmitter transmits radio signals that are compliant with at least one of BlueTooth standard, Near Field Communications, Wireless Local Area Network; Wireless Wide Area Networks and Radio Frequency Identifiers. In certain implementations, an attachment mechanism is used to attach the housing to a legacy device so as to permit infrared signals to pass to the infrared receiver. In certain implementations, an infrared pass-through permits the infrared signal to pass through the housing so that the infrared signal can be read by an infrared reader. In certain implementations, a battery powers the infrared receiver, the display, and the processor.

In another exemplary embodiment, a housing contains: an infrared receiver that is ported through the housing to receive infrared encoded data and provide an electrical signal representing the encoded infrared data as an output. A radio transmitter is provided. A processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is transmitted by the radio transmitter.

In certain implementations, the radio transmitter transmits radio signals that are compliant with at least one of BlueTooth standard, Near Field Communications, Wireless Local Area Network; Wireless Wide Area Networks and Radio Frequency Identifiers. In certain implementations, an attachment mechanism is used to attach the housing to a legacy device so as to permit infrared signals to pass to the infrared receiver. In certain implementations, an infrared pass-through permits the infrared signal to pass through the housing so that the infrared signal can be read by an infrared reader. In certain implementations, the processor is further programmed to receive the electrical signal output from the infrared receiver and convert the output to a signal that is provided to the display where the display represents the signal as a visual image. In certain implementations, the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as a visual image of a bar code. In certain implementations, the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as alphanumeric characters. In certain implementations, a battery powers the infrared receiver, the radio transmitter, and the processor.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a housing contains: an infrared receiver that is ported through the housing to receive infrared encoded data and provide an electrical signal representing the encoded infrared data as an output. Both a radio frequency transmitter and a display are provided. An attachment mechanism is used to attach the housing to a legacy device so as to permit infrared signals to pass to the infrared receiver. A processor is programmed to: receive the electrical signal output from the infrared receiver, convert the output to a signal that is provided to the display where the display represents the signal as a visual image, and convert the electrical signal to a signal that is transmitted by the radio transmitter. In certain cases, a battery or other power source powers the infrared receiver, the transmitter, the display and the processor.

In certain implementations, the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as a visual image of a bar code. In certain implementations, the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as alphanumeric characters. In certain implementations, the radio transmitter transmits radio signals that are compliant with at least one of BlueTooth standard, Near Field Communications, Wireless Local Area Network; Wireless Wide Area Networks and Radio Frequency Identifiers. In certain implementations, an infrared pass-through permits the infrared signal to pass through the housing so that the infrared signal can be read by an infrared reader.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further explained within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts an example of an IrDA tag consistent with certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention embraces a device—a “tag”—used to convert infrared communication signals to another format such as radio frequency or visual display.

This invention attempts to solve this problem by providing a low cost “tag” that could be adhered over the legacy IR port, and convert that signal into another format that could be accepted by the mobile device. Such formats may include: Bluetooth, WIFI, NFC, bar code, etc.

A battery operated IrDA tag accepts signals from the IR transmitting port which further encodes and transmits the signal over a wireless medium such as NFC/RFID tag, BT/WLAN/WWAN or updates an electronic display to present the data in human or machine readable form.

The “tag” would have an IrDA receiver to accept the signal from the transmitting port. It would then have processing capabilities to process the signal and either encode the data for transmission over a wireless medium (Bluetooth, Cellular, WIFI, NFC, RFD UHF, etc.) or to update an electronic display to present the data in human or machine readable form.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an example legacy device 10 is depicted. Legacy device (e.g., a water meter) has an infrared transmitter port 14 that is used to convey a meter reading encoded into infrared light rays 18 to a compatible receiver device.

As noted above, there may be disadvantages to directly using the IR signal in connection with more modern communication devices. It may also be too expensive to fully replace the Legacy devices that are already field deployed. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an easily adapted interface that can be affixed to the legacy device and convert the legacy infrared signal to either a radio signal or a visual signal. Tag 40 provides such a converter in device that can be affixed (e.g., by epoxy or other adhesive or other mechanical attachment mechanism) to the legacy device in order to provide for more modern communication.

Tag 40 is, in one embodiment, powered by a battery 44, but may also be hardwired to a convenient power source in other embodiments. The tag 40 includes an infrared receiver 48 which is ported to a face of an enclosure 52 so as to permit receipt of the infrared signals 18 transmitted from the legacy device 10. The infrared signals received by receiver 48 are converted to electrical signals that are provided to a processor 60 for interpretation.

In one embodiment, the processor 60 translates the signal received from IrDA receiver 48 to a signal that is retransmitted by a radio transmitter 64 as, for example, a BlueTooth™ compatible signal (or as a near field communication (NFC), WiFi, Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN), Wireless Wide Area Networking (WWAN), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), etc.) which can then be readily received by a compatible radio receiver. This enables more modern communication devices to be deployed without need for replacement of legacy devices.

In another embodiment, processor 60 translates the signal received from the IrDA receiver 48 into a signal that can be represented on a display 68 such as an e-Ink display. In one example, the display can display alphanumeric characters or other characters that can be human or machine read. In another example, the display can be made to display a 2D or 3D bar code that can be machine read by a bar code reader device. Other variations will occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the present teachings.

In other embodiments, as depicted in FIG. 1, both a radio transmitter and a display may be provided, but in generally most applications will only utilize one or the other. Hence, either the display or the transmitter can be omitted in most applications to minimize cost. Many variations will occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the present teachings.

In use, this tag 40 would be placed directly over the IrDA port of the legacy device to now have a more modern interface. It could further be adapted to pass through the IrDA signal via an IR pass-through 74 for reading to remain compatible with other IrDA reading devices without departing from the present teachings.

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patent application publications, and patent applications:

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In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: a housing containing: an infrared receiver that is ported through the housing to receive infrared encoded data and provide an electrical signal representing the encoded infrared data as an output; a display; and a processor that is programmed to receive the electrical signal output from the infrared receiver and convert the output to a signal that is provided to the display where the display represents the signal as a visual image.
 2. The device according to claim 1, where the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as a visual image of a bar code.
 3. The device according to claim 1, where the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as alphanumeric characters.
 4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a radio transmitter; and where the processor is further programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is transmitted by the radio transmitter.
 5. The device according to claim 4, where the radio transmitter transmits radio signals that are compliant with at least one of BlueTooth standard, Near Field Communications, Wireless Local Area Network; Wireless Wide Area Networks and Radio Frequency Identifiers.
 6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment mechanism that is used to attach the housing to a legacy device so as to permit infrared signals to pass to the infrared receiver.
 7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising an infrared pass-through that permits the infrared signal to pass through the housing so that the infrared signal can be read by an infrared reader.
 8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a battery that powers the infrared receiver, the display and the processor.
 9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising a battery that powers the infrared receiver, the display and the processor.
 10. A device, comprising: a housing containing: an infrared receiver that is ported through the housing to receive infrared encoded data and provide an electrical signal representing the encoded infrared data as an output; a radio transmitter; and a processor that is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is transmitted by the radio transmitter.
 11. The device according to claim 10, where the radio transmitter transmits radio signals that are compliant with at least one of BlueTooth standard, Near Field Communications, Wireless Local Area Network; Wireless Wide Area Networks and Radio Frequency Identifiers.
 12. The device according to claim 10, where the processor is further programmed to receive the electrical signal output from the infrared receiver and convert the output to a signal that is provided to the display where the display represents the signal as a visual image.
 13. The device according to claim 12, where the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as a visual image of a bar code.
 14. The device according to claim 12, where the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as alphanumeric characters.
 15. The device according to claim 10, further comprising an attachment mechanism that is used to attach the housing to a legacy device so as to permit infrared signals to pass to the infrared receiver.
 16. The device according to claim 10, further comprising an infrared pass-through that permits the infrared signal to pass through the housing so that the infrared signal can be read by an infrared reader.
 17. A device, comprising: a housing containing: an infrared receiver that is ported through the housing to receive infrared encoded data and provide an electrical signal representing the encoded infrared data as an output; a radio frequency transmitter; a display; an attachment mechanism that is used to attach the housing to a legacy device so as to permit infrared signals to pass to the infrared receiver; a processor that is programmed to: receive the electrical signal output from the infrared receiver, convert the output to a signal that is provided to the display where the display represents the signal as a visual image, and convert the electrical signal to a signal that is transmitted by the radio transmitter; and a battery that powers the infrared receiver, the radio frequency transmitter, the display, and the processor.
 18. The device according to claim 17, where the processor is programmed to convert the electrical signal to a signal that is represented on the display as a visual image of a bar code or of alphanumeric characters.
 19. The device according to claim 17, where the radio transmitter transmits radio signals that are compliant with at least one of BlueTooth standard, Near Field Communications, Wireless Local Area Network; Wireless Wide Area Networks and Radio Frequency Identifiers.
 20. The device according to claim 17, further comprising an infrared pass-through that permits the infrared signal to pass through the housing so that the infrared signal can be read by an infrared reader. 